Navigate India's regulatory landscape with TEPA-backed legal certainty
India's regulatory environment is complex, fragmented across states, and constantly evolving.
TEPA.swiss® provides Swiss companies with IP protection, regulatory clarity, and dispute resolution mechanisms — but these provisions only work if you know how to use them.
We translate TEPA's legal framework into actionable compliance roadmaps for your sector.
The Regulatory Challenge
India's regulatory landscape presents unique barriers for Swiss companies:
- Fragmented across 28 states & 8 union territories
- Sector-specific agencies (FSSAI, CDSCO, BIS, DGFT, etc.)
- Frequent policy changes & interpretation ambiguity
- Label requirements vary by product category
- Import licensing can take 3-12 months
- IP enforcement remains inconsistent
How TEPA Changes This
TEPA provides Swiss companies with structural advantages:
- IP Protection: Patents, trademarks, GIs covered under agreement
- Regulatory Transparency: Commitments to streamline approvals
- Dispute Resolution: Formal mechanisms for trade conflicts
- Services Liberalization: Easier to establish legal presence
- Investment Safeguards: Protection against arbitrary policy changes
Why this matters
The Challenge and the Advantage
✽ IP Protection & Enforcement, Regulatory Compliance, Legal Entity Setup
What's included
Secure your intellectual property under TEPA provisions
What we do:
- Trademark registration strategy (India vs Switzerland)
- Geographical Indication (GI) protection activation
- Patent filing & prosecution support
- Copyright & design rights enforcement
- Anti-counterfeiting measures
- TEPA dispute resolution pathway
Deliverable:
IP protection roadmap with registration timeline
Typical Timeline:
2-4 months
Navigate sector-specific regulatory requirements
What we do:
- FSSAI registration & label approval (food & beverage)
- CDSCO approvals (pharmaceuticals & medical devices)
- BIS certification (industrial products)
- Import licensing (DGFT, state excise for wine)
- State-specific compliance (Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, ..)
- Ongoing regulatory monitoring
Deliverable:
Compliance checklist with agency contact map
Typical Timeline:
3-6 months
Establish compliant operations in India
What we do:
- Entity structure recommendation (subsidiary, branch, rep office)
- Company registration (MCA, PAN, TAN, GST)
- Foreign investment approvals (if required)
- Banking & financial compliance
- Employment law & HR setup
- Ongoing legal support
Deliverable:
Registered legal entity ready for operations
Typical Timeline:
6-14 weeks
Our process in four easy steps
1
Compliance Audit
We assess your product, sector, and TEPA eligibility
- Product classification (HS code, regulatory category)
- TEPA tariff & IP provisions analysis
- Regulatory agency mapping
- Risk & timeline assessment
Duration: 1-2 weeks
2
Roadmap Design
We create a sector-specific compliance roadmap
- Agency application sequence
- Document preparation checklist
- Label & packaging requirements
- Cost & timeline projections
Duration: 1-2 weeks
3
Execution Support
We manage applications & approvals on your behalf
- Application submission & follow-up
- Agency liaison & clarifications
- Document translation & notarization
- Progress tracking & reporting
Duration: 2-6 months
4
Ongoing Monitoring
We keep you compliant as regulations evolve
- Regulatory change alerts
- Renewal reminders
- Policy interpretation support
- TEPA dispute escalation (if needed)
Duration: Ongoing
Sector-Specific Expertise
Food & Beverage
Wine, Spirits, Specialty Foods
KEY REGULATORY BODIES:
- FSSAI (Food Safety & Standards Authority of India)
- State Excise Departments (for wine & spirits)
- DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade)
WHAT WE HANDLE:
✓ FSSAI import license & product approvals
✓ Label compliance (ingredients, nutrition, warnings)
✓ State excise registrations (Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Goa)
✓ Import duty optimization under TEPA
✓ Warehouse & cold chain compliance
CASE STUDY:
Swiss Wine India — We secured FSSAI approvals for Swiss wines and state excise licenses in key markets within 8 months.
Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
KEY REGULATORY BODIES:
- CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation)
- DCGI (Drug Controller General of India)
- State Drug Controllers
WHAT WE HANDLE:
✓ Import license for drugs & medical devices
✓ Product registration & clinical trial approvals
✓ Manufacturing license (if applicable)
✓ GMP compliance & facility inspections
✓ Ongoing pharmacovigilance reporting
TYPICAL TIMELINE:
6-18 months (varies by product risk classification)
Services & Consulting
KEY REGULATORY BODIES:
- RBI (Reserve Bank of India)
- MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs)
- Professional licensing bodies
WHAT WE HANDLE:
✓ Legal entity setup (LLP, Private Limited, Branch Office)
✓ Professional practice licenses
✓ Cross-border payment compliance
✓ Tax registration (GST, TDS, PAN)
✓ Employment & visa support
TYPICAL TIMELINE:
6-12 weeks
Products & Machinery
KEY REGULATORY BODIES:
- BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards)
- DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade)
- Sector-specific regulators
WHAT WE HANDLE:
✓ BIS certification (mandatory for specified products)
✓ Import licensing & customs classification
✓ Technical standards compliance
✓ After-sales service requirements
✓ Export obligation compliance (if applicable)
TYPICAL TIMELINE:
3-6 months
✽ India-EFTA Trade & Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) and the TEPA.swiss® Platform
TEPA-specific Advantages
IP Protection Provisions
Swiss trademarks, patents, and GIs are protected under TEPA's IP chapter
Regulatory Transperancy Commitments
India has committed to streamline approvals for TEPA-covered sectors
What TEPA provides
Dispute Resolution Mechanisms
Formal channels for resolving trade conflicts between Switzerland and India
Investment Safeguards
Protection against arbitrary policy changes that affect Swiss investments
What the TEPA.swiss® platform provides
✓ TEPA provision mapping for your product/sector
✓ Agency liaison using TEPA commitments
✓ Dispute escalation pathway (if needed)
✓ Ongoing policy monitoring & interpretation
✓ Network of TEPA-aware legal & regulatory partners in India
We translate TEPA's legal framework into action
We don't just know the rules — we know how to use TEPA to your advantage.
Pricing & Investment
From first assessment to full approval—priced for market entry success.
Compliance Audit
One-time assessment
Request AuditINCLUDES:- Product classification & HS code analysis
- TEPA tariff & IP provisions review
- Regulatory agency mapping
- Risk & timeline assessment
- Written compliance roadmap
- DELIVERABLE: 15-20 page compliance report
Full Compliance Support
End-to-end regulatory execution
Schedule ConsultationINCLUDES:- Everything in Compliance Audit
- Application preparation & submission
- Agency liaison & follow-up
- Document translation & notarization
- Progress tracking & reporting
- 6 months post-approval support
- DELIVERABLE: All regulatory approvals secured
Cluster Member Pricing
Discounted rates for cluster participants
Join a Cluster- INCLUDES:
- Shared compliance infrastructure
- Collective agency applications (where applicable)
- Ongoing regulatory monitoring
- Priority support
- AVAILABLE FOR: Swiss Wine India, Precision Engineering, Pharma & MedTech, Cleantech clusters
Frequently Asked Questions
What companies ask us before entering the Indian market.
It varies by sector:
- Food & Beverage (FSSAI): 2-4 months
- Pharmaceuticals (CDSCO): 6-18 months
- Industrial Products (BIS): 3-6 months
- Legal Entity Setup: 6-14 weeks
No. India operates on a "first-to-file" system. You must register your trademark in India to enforce it, even if it's protected in Switzerland.
TEPA provides a framework for protection, but registration is still required.
We work with customs authorities to determine the correct classification. This is critical because your TEPA tariff benefit depends on accurate HS code classification.
Not necessarily. You can work with an Importer of Record (like Swintra Ventures Pvt. Ltd. for Swiss Wine India) or establish your own entity. We help you decide based on your volume, sector, and long-term plans.
TEPA includes regulatory transparency commitments and dispute resolution mechanisms. We monitor policy changes and help you navigate transitions. In extreme cases, we can escalate through TEPA channels.
CHF 12,000-35,000 for full end-to-end support, depending on sector complexity. Cluster members receive 30-50% discounts through shared infrastructure.
Ready to Navigate India's Regulatory Landscape?
Schedule a free 30-minute compliance assessment.